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Facing the Crisis through Investment
The components industry is being affected by the global financial crisis, particularly due to sluggish sales in the automotive sector. Both Ficosa and Grupo Antolin are implementing plans to prepare themselves and diversify their businesses in order to compete.
The decline in the automobile market has been considerable. In 2008, about 70 million cars were produced worldwide, but this figure fell to just 60 million in 2009. The recovery is expected to be slow, and forecasts predict that it may only begin to pick up in 2012. Experts in the sector also believe that Asia will account for a large part of future production due to low costs.
Despite the crisis, both Ficosa and Grupo Antolin continue to invest in R&D in order to lead the market at a global level. They are diversifying their products with a new business line, designed to meet the growing future demand expected to come from vehicles powered by alternative energies.
The Future of the Sector: The Electric Car
The crisis in the automotive sector and manufacturers’ increased awareness about sustainability is driving innovation in electric cars. Car manufacturers are working towards this goal in collaboration with component manufacturers such as Ficosa. The company has developed an electronic battery control system specially designed for electric vehicles. The system monitors and controls the battery status, which provides information about the charge and the number of kilometers remaining, as well as the conditions that affect battery life and performance.
The company has also opened a new laboratory at its research center in Barcelona, where it is carrying out research on battery control systems, their cooling systems, and the communication system, along with improving the resistance of batteries to vibrations, impacts or extreme temperatures.
Arantxa Noriega
Article published in May 2010
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